Mining News

Lithium Prospects Looking Good

8/18/2015 10:41:08 AM

Lithium’s importance to battery systems may lead it to become the next booming material, according to James Stafford of Oilprice.com. The push for electric transportation and green energy, which is often intermittent by nature, will create competition for cheaper and more efficient batteries to store the energy. Read Full Posting

Mining Could Help Argentina Recover

8/12/2015 04:31:22 PM

Argentina’s upcoming elections may boost its mining sector’s investment attractiveness, according to Mining Weekly. The positive news is partially due to the anticipated pro-market reforms being emphasized in the country’s upcoming elections. According to Reuters, economic advisers to major candidates said they “plan to liberalize the dollar exchange rate, cut taxes on lucrative grains exports, and move to plug a fiscal deficit and tame inflation.” Read Full Posting

$5.4 Trillion Dollars-Worth of Asteroid

8/11/2015 03:40:16 PM

Observers of the space mining industry have recently had their attention drawn towards a lucrative asteroid containing high concentrations of platinum. According to RT, asteroid 2011 UW158 contains approximately 90 million tons of platinum in its core, worth an estimated US$5.4 trillion. Read Full Posting

High Permit Costs Reducing Value at US Mines

8/6/2015 09:36:04 AM

The impact of unnecessary delays in obtaining mining permits affects the United States’ mining industry the most severely out of all developed nations. It is estimated that as a result of the inefficient permitting system, it takes on average between seven to 10 years to secure all of the permits required to begin mining in the US; similar to Papua New Guinea. This is in contrast to countries such as Canada and Australia, where the average permit times lie between two-to-three years. Read Full Posting

England Getting Sirius about Potash

8/4/2015 02:37:22 PM

On June 30th the North York Moors National Park Authority (NPA) in England made the final decision to push forward York Potash mining Project, which had been proposed to be located in the North York Moors National Park, near the town of Whitby. Read Full Posting

Positive Trends in Canadian Investment

7/28/2015 11:35:36 AM

Despite relatively low financing in the mining industry for the first quarter of 2015, and decreasing mineral exploration spending in Canada, Canadian miners still seem to be receiving significant investment capital. SNL Metals and Mining Research tracked US$82.92 billion worth of mining and exploration worldwide from January 2013 through March 2015, and found that approximately 14 percent of regional investment went to Canada, behind Australia (15 percent), Asia/Middle East (20 percent) and Latin America (17 percent). Read Full Posting

Mongolia Considers Selling Stake in Tavan Tolgoi

7/24/2015 11:04:08 AM

Mongolia is considering selling its stake in 10 state-owned companies during this year and the next, including its share in the US$4 billion coal operation Tavan Tolgoi, the largest coal operation in the country. According to Bloomberg, the decision comes as part of the government’s plan to divest its holdings in power plants and other businesses, in an attempt to draw foreign investment into their weakening economy. Read Full Posting

Zimbabwe Consolidates Diamond Mines

7/21/2015 10:52:01 AM

Zimbabwe’s government has announced plans to consolidate the nation’s diamond industry into a single company, of which the state will own 50 percent. The firms agreed to comply with the ruling which forces them to merge. Read Full Posting

Congo Looking to Take a Piece of Kamoa Sale

7/14/2015 12:24:13 PM

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has indicated that they wish to postpone the sale of Ivanhoe Mines’ Kamoa operation to China’s Zijin Mining Group Co. The deal is being delayed until the government decides on whether or not to increase its own shareholding in the project. Read Full Posting

Uncertainty Remains on Centerra's Kumtor Operation

7/14/2015 11:20:32 AM

Following almost two years of negotiations with the Kyrgyz government, Canadian miner Centerra Gold has received assurance that the Kumtor operation will be allowed to operate more smoothly. Prime Minister Bakyt Asanov said that authorities must allow the operation to go forward while fully protecting the country’s resources, environment and industrial safety standards. Read Full Posting

Zambia's Mining Policies Remain Erratic

7/14/2015 10:38:19 AM

Zambia’s government looks set to roll back contentious taxes that have led to a standoff between itself and industry in the midst of falling copper prices. Foreign miners including Glencore PLC and Barrick Gold Corp. could benefit significantly as Africa’s second largest copper producer reverts back to lower levies. Read Full Posting

Historic Exemption for Canadian Uranium Mining

7/9/2015 11:25:18 AM

Canada’s Department of Natural Resources has provided a degree of relief to its faltering uranium mining sector by granting a potentially precedent-setting exemption to Australian miner Paladin. The exemption allows Paladin to retain a majority ownership of its proposed Michelin uranium mine in Newfoundland and Labrador. Paladin is only the second firm to be given exemption since the non-resident ownership policy was first put in place in 1987. Read Full Posting

New Hope for Mining Investment in Nunavut

7/7/2015 09:59:51 AM

It appears that Nunavut’s mining sector may be picking up, with renewed interest in developing the region’s Hope Bay gold project. TMAC Resources Inc. issued a press release in early June outlining their plans to engage in this opportunity. The company is issuing an IPO with an interest in using the funds to develop the Hope Bay mine to what they see as having profitable potential. Read Full Posting

Chile Heating up as a Rare Earths Market

6/18/2015 04:46:09 PM

Chilean company Mineria Activa is entering the rare earths market with a new extraction project in Santiago, increasing competition in this Chinese dominated space. Read Full Posting

Mining Exploration Cooling Down Under

6/18/2015 03:32:55 PM

Recent data released from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows Australian mining investment is moving in a downward trend. Total exploration spending for Australia fell 6.1 percent to $395 million in the first quarter of 2015, compared to the same period in 2014 where spending was at $487.7 million. Read Full Posting

Shifts in Energy Policy Taking a Bite out of China’s Coal Sector

6/18/2015 03:00:46 PM

This past April, top policy makers in Beijing announced in newly published documents that “market forces” should decide how electricity is generated, transmitted and distributed--not the state--throughout China. Read Full Posting

Mining in Africa: untapped potential due to high investment barriers

6/4/2015 11:36:56 AM

In February, research by Standard Bank concluded that much of the potential of the African mining industry remains untapped. Their research reports that more than 30 percent of the world’s mining reserves are on the African continent. Yet 2013 mineral exploration in African jurisdictions accounted for only 17 percent of the world’s exploration budget Read Full Posting

Rio Tinto Strikes a Deal with Mongols

5/27/2015 04:44:17 PM

Mining superpower Rio Tinto struck a
deal with the Mongolian government after over two years of negotiations
surrounding the initiation of Phase 2 of the Oyu Tolgoi mining project. Phase 1 of the project has been in
production since 2013. The main issues holding up the next phase
between the mining company and government have been the allocation of
costs and revenues, which they have now resolved.

South African Labour Unrest May Present Challenges

5/27/2015 04:32:18 PM

In the first week of May the South African National Union of
Mineworkers (NUM) brought demands to the table with gold-mining
companies in the region. Notably, they asked for a 75 percent increase
in wages for entry level positions in the gold sector. Read Full Posting

Goldman Heading out of Colombia

5/12/2015 12:08:54 PM

This past week, investment banking giant Goldman Sachs announced a planned divestiture of its mining holdings in Colombia. Partial justification for the proposed sale arises from claims of “operational difficulties.” According to the Wall Street Journal, these included the forming of a human blockade to protest labour issues, rapidly falling coal prices, and the effects of an environmental law that shut down production for almost an entire year. Read Full Posting

Protests Erupt in Greece

4/21/2015 04:36:41 PM

Mining is in the news in Greece, as protests have erupted over the new Greek government’s revocation of Eldorado Gold Corp.’s license to develop a gold mine. Thousands of miners were protesting the government’s decision which may cause the miners to lose their jobs. Read Full Posting

Finland ranks first in world in annual global mining survey; eight of top 10 jurisdictions found in North America

3/2/2015 04:23:41 PM

Finland is the world’s most attractive jurisdiction for mining
investment according to an annual global survey of mining executives
released by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian
policy think-tank. Read Full Posting

Quebec’s mining reputation rebounds in international mining survey

3/2/2015 04:03:30 PM

Quebec is re-establishing itself as one of Canada’s — and one of the
world’s — most attractive jurisdictions for mining investment, according
to an annual global survey of mining executives released by the Fraser
Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian policy think-tank. Read Full Posting

Saskatchewan ranks first in Canada and second worldwide in annual global mining survey; Ontario and B.C. slipping

3/2/2015 03:49:51 PM

Saskatchewan is the most attractive jurisdiction for mining investment
in Canada, according to an annual global survey of mining executives
released by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian
policy think-tank. Read Full Posting

Land-Claims a Major Issue for BC

2/12/2015 05:01:22 PM

Recently British Columbia’s Premier, Christy Clark, announced that the province was going to provide funding for the establishment of a Major Mines Permitting Office to improve the coordination of permitting across the government, in addition to adding more staff for inspections and permitting activities, and improving the turnaround times for notice of work permits. Read Full Posting

Mongolia Swapping Equity for Royalties

2/12/2015 04:46:52 PM

The numbers are in: 56% of Mongolians are in favour of major mining projects. Using a text message referendum system, the Mongolian government asked its people if they should pursue more foreign investment for mining as a means to development or not. Read Full Posting

Rare Earths: China still holding 90% of Global Market

2/3/2015 05:28:19 PM

Most of us couldn’t name a rare earth element and yet they are an
integral part of our everyday lives. Smartphones, laptops and LCD
screens all contain significant quantities of at least one of the 17
elements and our dependence on these materials is only going to grow
alongside the high tech industry. There is an opportunity for investors
to gain exposure to the rare earth market and benefit from its predicted
growth, but for the moment, China is holding all the cards. Read Full Posting

West Australian Government Offers 50% Royalty Relief

1/23/2015 03:09:42 PM

Following a sharp decrease in the price of iron ore, junior producers are now receiving tax concessions from the West Australian government to keep them afloat. Judged on a case by case basis, the government believes offering a 50% rebate on iron ore royalties is a fair solution to the short term dip in the commodity’s price. Read Full Posting

Canadian Miner Prepared to Lose $1.5 Billion Investment

1/23/2015 03:02:29 PM

After 15 years, 7 different CEOs and $US1.5 billion worth of investment, the Canadian-listed Gabriel Resources (TSX: GBU), may be preparing to cut its losses. In a statement released this week, the company reiterated that it will seek international arbitration should an amicable agreement on the Rosia Montana project not be met in the near future. Romania’s lower house rejected the latest mining proposal in September 2013 and discussions have been stagnant ever since. Read Full Posting

Zambia Triples Mining Tax

1/14/2015 04:13:39 PM

The Zambian government has announced that there will be significant changes to the country’s mining royalty regimes as part of their aim to overhaul the country’s tax system. The tax on earnings will increase from 6% to 8% for underground mines, and 6% to 20% for open pit mines. Read Full Posting

India Ends 40 Year State Monopoly

1/9/2015 11:07:01 AM

India’s parliament recently voted to end a 40 year state monopoly on coal mining. The new bill, endorsed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, now gives private companies the right to mine and sell coal in India, where before they could only mine to fuel their own energy demands. Read Full Posting

Guatemala Increases Mining Royalties to All-Time High

12/30/2014 02:47:44 PM

The 2015 Guatemalan budget was released in September with dramatic changes to mining royalties. President Otto Perez Molina approved a tax increase from 1% to 10% on the incomes of all transnational miners operating in the region, the first change to this tax regime in over 20 years. Read Full Posting

Rwanda’s Mining Growth an Example for Neighboring Nations

12/30/2014 02:39:17 PM

Since 2008, Rwanda’s mining industry has experienced unprecedented growth, averaging 46% annually. Export of the country’s key minerals, Tin and Tungsten, now contributes over US$226 million per year, compared to only US$ 40 million in 2006. Read Full Posting

How to Not Conduct Mining Policy

11/14/2014 12:28:03 PM

The Kyrgyz Republic could well serve as the poster child for disastrous mining policy. The former Soviet satellite recently made a move to seize rare earth projects held by Canadian firm Stans Energy. Read Full Posting

NWT Takes Advantage of Devolution

11/10/2014 04:09:43 PM

The Northwest Territories (NWT) has taken its first step towards developing its own resources since devolution took place. The CBC is reporting that the territory has approved a potential mining development’s environmental assessment. The review was also completed in two months, when the initial timeline was for the review to be completed in seven, signaling that, at least for the moment, long regulatory approval times will not act as an impediment to potential investment. Read Full Posting

Kazakhstan’s on the Right Path

10/22/2014 11:09:04 AM

Kazakhstan is finding out that even small changes in policy can pay off. Bloomberg is reporting that Kazakhstan is set to ease rules on foreign investment in mining and is planning on awarding between 50 and 100 new mining licenses beginning next year. Erlan Sagadiev, Kazakhstan’s deputy minister investments and development was quoted as saying that “[n]ext year will probably be the most active year and we would expect international mining companies coming in and bidding.” Read Full Posting

On Nevada Mining Tax - Caution Needed

10/16/2014 10:10:35 AM

On November 4th, as much of the U.S. is fixated on the approaching Midterm Elections, many people in Nevada will be pondering the implications of Question No.2 on this year’s ballot. Section 5 of Article 10 of the Nevada Constitution provides that taxation on profits from mineral based resource industries shall not exceed 5 percent, and Question No. 2 asks whether Nevadans would like to amend the constitution to remove this provision. Read Full Posting

Indonesia’s Troubling Mining Situation

9/11/2014 03:05:56 PM

This week the Indonesian government took steps that may derail future investment within the country’s mining industry. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Indonesia has reached an agreement with two major mining operators—Freport-McMoran and Newmont—that will see a 7.5% levy on mineral exports. Read Full Posting

Peak Everything?

9/9/2014 03:46:11 PM

Are we running out of everything, again? That would appear to be the
case based on a new infographic from Visual Capitalist, posted on
Mining.com. According to the new estimates, the world will “run out” of
oil shortly after 2050, gas around 2075, and uranium around 2080. Read Full Posting

Resources Rent Tax

8/28/2014 02:19:30 PM

Continuing industrialization in developing countries suggests that demand for vital commodities such as metals and minerals will continue to increase. This increased demand will result in even greater interest in mining activities in both Canada and Australia. One form this interest may take is with regard to taxation.

Mining boom brings economic benefits to Australia

8/27/2014 04:51:10 PM

According to data published by the Reserve Bank of Australia, the country's decade-long mining boom underpinned a glut of spending on new cars and household durable goods, such as such as furniture, appliances, TVs, cameras and computers.

U.S. Energy Boom: Shifting energy supply

8/15/2014 04:51:55 PM

A recent article by the Wall Street Journal reported that “In U.S. Energy Boom, Alaska is Unlikely Loser” explains that the booming industry in other parts of the country explains the decline in Alaskan Oil production.

A brief guide to Graphite

8/12/2014 11:59:41 AM

After decades of near-dormancy in the graphite industry, an increasing
number of companies are racing to produce flake graphite, the purest
natural form of the mineral touted for its lightness, extreme resistance
to heat and high conductivity. Read Full Posting

Frack Sand

8/7/2014 04:08:59 PM

If oil is black gold then “frack sand” is gold dust. When most people think of mining they think about precious metals such as gold or silver. Because sand is used in hydraulic fracturing (fracking), demand for sand has increased.

Mining at the Extremes

2/25/2014 03:58:05 PM

It’s common to read about some of the perceived downsides to mining in many
newspapers, but it’s less common to read positive stories about mining, and the
people who do it. The Wall Street Journal has not just one, but two articles on
mining in Canada’s far north.

Strange Bedfellows: Miners Taking to Renewable Energy

Miners avoided Quebec last year, investments plunged 34%

2/13/2014 03:34:15 PM

Reposted from Mining.com:
Mining investments in Canada’s province of Quebec dropped significantly more than expected in 2013, plunging about 37% from a record year in 2012, and marking the first annual drop in a decade.

Not a Small World After All

1/7/2014 01:44:27 PM

An article in Canada’s Financial Post looks at an interesting
factor in what the article describes as the “Ring of Fire Debacle” – the recent collapse in investor interest in developing what has been estimated at $60 billion (yes,
with a 'b') worth of minerals.

Value of Canada’s Mineral Assets Declines

12/9/2013 09:59:17 AM

Statistics Canada has released new figures on the value of Canada’s natural resource assets. In 2012, total natural resource assets were valued at $781 billion, a decrease of 30% from 2011 and reflective of lower prices received.

New Study on Quebec’s Mining Performance Released

12/6/2013 11:36:03 AM

Quebec has seen a significant decline in the attractiveness of its policy environment for mining investment over the last five years, dropping from the top-ranked
jurisdiction in 2009/2010 to 11th place in 2012/2013. A new study released by the Fraser Institute explores the reasons for this decline.

Coal Crashing in Kentucky

11/27/2013 04:59:10 PM

Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Kris
Maher and Tom McGinty reveal the economic devastation landing in the U.S. Appalachians as a result of economic and regulatory shifts in coal mining:
Unprecedented pressures on the U.S. coal industry and nearly two years of mine closures and layoffs are reshaping the heart of the Central Appalachian
coalfields in ways that many experts believe could be permanent.

Cliffs Natural Resources Suspends Ring of Fire Project Indefinitely

11/22/2013 04:05:29 PM

On November 20th, Cliffs Natural Resources announced
that they will indefinitely suspend their Chromite Project in Ontario’s ‘Ring of Fire’ by the end of 2013. The company cites current challenges in the region as well as the
cost of continuing along the current path as reasons for this delay.

Quebec’s Rough Resource Ride

11/20/2013 04:40:15 PM

Quebec is in the news again as a second lawsuit has been filed in response to their natural resource policy changes in recent years. As Nicolas Van Praet explains in the Financial Post, U.S. based mining company Strateco is suing the federal government due to potential losses relating to some $125 million in investments made to date in obtaining permission to engage in Uranium exploration at the company’s Matoush uranium mining project.

Power shortage limiting mining development in the North

11/20/2013 04:32:54 PM

The Globe and Mail recently published an article on how access to power is creating
a significant barrier to development in Canada’s territories, particularly resource development projects. It is
part of a series looking at infrastructure projects designed to create economic opportunities in Canada’s North.

Ontario Sued by Mining Junior over Consultation Short-Comings

11/20/2013 04:13:14 PM

The legal quagmire of Aboriginal consultation has taken an interesting turn in recent weeks. Northern Superior Resources (NSR) – a Sudbury-based junior miner – has filed suit against the
province of Ontario for $110 million on the basis the province has failed to fulfill its duty to consult with First Nations.

Mining Policy Matters

10/31/2013 11:32:01 AM

According to an article on Mining.com, mining companies in Mexico are threatening to
move their investment capital to other jurisdictions if Mexico advances with a plan
to impose a 7.5% tax on resource companies

Neil Young’s elitist views would increase poverty

9/19/2013 10:32:39 AM

In the 20th century, much of the divide in politics and policy was over how best to create jobs, incomes and keep people from starving. In other words, how to create opportunity as part of the good life.

More on Northern Promise

9/16/2013 03:30:26 PM

The Financial Post has another installment out in its “Northern Promise” series of articles examining development in some of
Canada’s more remote regions. Not surprisingly, a lot of those developments revolve around extractive industries for both petroleum
and minerals.

According to Shawn McCarthy’s article in the Globe and Mail
September 4th, the federal, provincial and territorial resource ministers are in
agreement that Canada should require mining companies to disclose what they pay
to various levels of government both in Canada and for their foreign operations.

Northern Promise Series

8/28/2013 03:33:21 PM

In case you missed it: the National Post has an interesting six-part series in
development on development in Canada’s more remote communities. Part one (by Peter
Koven) focuses on the “Ring of Fire,” the region in Northern Ontario where a large
chromite mining operation has been held up for 6 years.

Silver Lining in Afghanistan?

8/21/2013 04:59:45 PM

After more than a decade of war and nation-building, members of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)—the multitasking army of armies that has tried to transform Afghanistan into a healthy, or at least harmless, nation-state—are heading for the exits. Although ISAF will leave behind a better country than what was there in 2001, Afghanistan remains a battered landa. However, that land may hold a silver lining.

BC coal faces growing demand abroad and opposition at home

7/31/2013 01:50:36 PM

India’s demand for British Columbia’s metallurgical coal is growing, as reported in an article by Gordon Hoekstra in the Vancouver Sun. Metallurgical coal is used in steelmaking and the Indian government forecasts that it will need twice as much of this coal by 2017.

The Ripple Effect Hits Canadian Banks as Mining Sector Suffers

7/25/2013 03:10:07 PM

Everyone is familiar with the ripple effect, where one throws a rock into a pond, and the ripples propagate outward from the impact, spreading across the surface of the pond. What people often don’t think about is that the ripple effect is also an economic one: throw a stone into one element of the economy, and the effects ripple outward to other elements.

The Grouse that Roared: A dodo bird?

7/16/2013 09:34:58 AM

First, let me say that I have nothing against Sage Grouse. And, I can’t say that I’ve ever seen one. I would say that puts me with almost 90 percent of people who also live in areas where Sage Grouse range from southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada to southeastern California.
The Sage Grouse population has be declining dramatically primarily because of loss of habitat.

Manitoba faces ‘potentially deal-breaking uncertainty’ over treaty land claims in its mineral exploration sector according to an article by Martin Cash in the Winnipeg Free Press. This is compounding problems for the mineral exploration sector at a time when metal prices are low, investors are already avoiding the sector, and equipment is subject to an additional 1% sales tax.

Serbia’s mining revival

6/24/2013 10:58:58 AM

Serbia is on the cusp of a mining revival according to an article featured recently in the National Post. Although gold and copper has been mined in some parts since Roman times, the mining sector has been stagnant since the early 1990s when wars tore Yugoslavia apart.

Debunking the myths about Canada’s Resource Development

6/24/2013 10:49:45 AM

Canada’s reliance on natural resources for development are overblown, according to a new study by the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. The paper addresses the misplaced notion of a "resource curse" by correcting six commonly held misconceptions about the development of Canada’s natural resources.

More On Transparency

6/20/2013 02:40:13 PM

As I noted recently, Prime
Minister Stephen Harper has announced that Canada will “establish new, mandatory
reporting standards for payments made to foreign and domestic governments by
Canadian extractive companies.” The move is being lauded by many, but does face
some opposition, including opposition from some business groups and trade
associations in the U.S.

Are We Running out of Minerals?

6/14/2013 11:40:02 AM

Back in the 1950’s and 60’s geologists started pointing out that projections for economic growth in the near future would require using more basic materials – copper, iron, lead, zinc, oil and natural gas, etc., – than have been used since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in the late 17th century. This caused concern and governments in developed countries in Europe and North America and scientists from many disciplines began looking into the field of “mineral availability”.

Mining Transparency Coming to Canada

6/12/2013 11:31:48 AM

According to the Financial Post, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has announced that Canada will “establish new, mandatory reporting standards for payments made to foreign and domestic governments by Canadian extractive companies.”

More transparency coming to Canadian mining

6/7/2013 10:20:35 AM

According to a recent article in the Globe and Mail, the Mining Association of Canada, the Prospectors and Developers Association (PDAC) of Canada, Revenue Watch International, and Publish What You Pay Canada are partnering to lobby for mandatory “publish what you pay” rules in Canada.

Unusual Copper Market Dynamics

Companies Are Addicted to Crony Capitalism

6/3/2013 11:38:32 AM

If business leaders ever wonder why a chunk of the public disdains business and
calls for higher corporate taxes or sector-specific increases (e.g. higher royalty rates
for energy and mining, higher stumpage fees in forestry) or just increased business
taxation in general, here's a clue: too many companies are addicted to corporate
welfare, a.k.a: crony capitalism.

Matt Badiali: Why Bill Powers is Dead Wrong

Defensive Mining

5/28/2013 02:01:53 PM

We all know about defensive driving. But, there is also defensive mining and
I’m not talking about avoiding workplace accidents, environmental damage, public
relations problems, etc., although those are all important issues to be defensive
about.

The End of the Commodity ‘Super Cycle’: root causes and consequences for miners

5/21/2013 12:21:03 PM

Financial analysts have been proclaiming the end of the so called commodity super cycle for some months now and mining companies are starting to feel the pinch of lower commodity demand and prices. The demand and price weakness is being felt in markets for most mineral commodities – iron, copper, coal, and precious metals – and it is starting to squeeze miners.

British Columbia’s mining sector had another prosperous year, according to PwC's annual report on mining in British
Columbia. The sector remained stable despite facing global market uncertainty, lower commodity prices, and higher costs for
labour and mining inputs such as production materials, fuel, and transportation.

Canada’s mining industry is global, with Canadian listed firms active in exploration and development projects around the world. Practices that are seen as bribery in Canada may be quite common in emerging economies where miners operate, such as requests from public officials for under-the-table payments to help obtain permits, licenses, and other permissions. Changes to legislation to combat corruption and bribery abroad enacted by the UK, the USA, and Canada are bringing changes for the mining industry.

Lower copper prices amidst slower Chinese demand

5/7/2013 09:20:56 AM

Slower global growth and declining demand from China has led to a drop in copper prices in recent months. China currently accounts for more than 40% of world demand, and its demand has boomed as its rural population has moved to cities needing copper for wiring and pipes.

Surveys Show That Bad Regulations and Taxes Repel Mining Investment: But is Carson City Paying Attention?

5/3/2013 10:27:21 AM

Two recently released studies provide rankings of the investment climate for mining companies in various countries, states and provinces. Read Full Posting

The Costs of Uncertainty

5/3/2013 10:18:39 AM

The Wall Street Journal ran an interesting column recently on the costs that policy uncertainty has had on the U.S. economy:
Three economists, Stanford University's Nicholas Bloom and Scott Baker and the University of Chicago's Steven Davis, have done invaluable work measuring the level of policy uncertainty over the past few decades.

EPA casts doubt on Pebble Mine

4/29/2013 04:17:51 PM

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a new report casting a large shadow over the prospects for the proposed Pebble mine in Alaska. The EPA study is not an evaluation of a specific mining proposal, but rather, assesses the potential impacts of mining in the Bristol Bay region by creating 3 mining scenarios.

China’s Rare-Earth Elements Export Control Gambit Backfires?

4/29/2013 03:27:16 PM

Rare-Earth Elements (REE’s), it turns out, are not really all that rare, it is just that until engineers starting finding
uses for them in cell phones, windmills, lithium batteries, and other electronics applications, mining companies were not
particularly interested in looking for them. Expanded use of REE’s in the past decade has changed this and created
opportunities for mining companies, and, it turns out, for mercantilist bureaucrats in China.

Cleaning up mining: a new industry group hopes to raise the profile of cleaner mining innovations

10/4/2012 04:03:01 PM

The mining industry is often portrayed as a dirty industry, using old technologies and without regard for the environment. Yet increasingly, the mining industry is taking a proactive approach to improving environmental performance and using new technologies that decrease water and energy use, minimize environmental disturbances, and better remediate mine sites after mining operations are complete. Read Full Posting

Asbestos subsidies: Canadian taxpayers should not be required to subsidize uneconomic activities

10/2/2012 11:55:54 AM

Op-Ed by Alana Wilson,Senior Research Analyst with the Global Centre for Mining Studies at the Fraser Institute.

Mining and Sustainable Development: New research series released by ICMM

7/3/2012 01:04:42 PM

The International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) has launched a new research series to describe the role of mining and metals in sustainable development. The first in the series, Mining’s Contribution to Sustainable Development, was launched at the Rio+20 summit. Read Full Posting

CBC’s ‘The New Conquistadors’ and public debate over Canadian mining in Panama

7/3/2012 11:13:07 AM

On June 18th, the CBC aired a 25 minute investigative report called “The New Conquistadors” that explored Canadian mining in indigenous communities in Panama. The report provided interviews with locals who both support and oppose mining, as well as mining company personnel and anti-mine protestors. Read Full Posting

The Plan Nord’s hoped-for cash windfall is far from a sure thing

6/7/2012 10:41:30 AM

Op-Ed by Jean-François Minardi, associate director of the Fraser Institute’s Global Natural Resource Policy Centre. Originally published June 4, 2012 in The Montreal Gazette. Read Full Posting

Mining Innovation: 100 Innovations highlighted in a new book

6/7/2012 10:17:13 AM

Humans have mined minerals since the beginning of our civilization. While such a long history may imply old and outdated methods, a new book by Minalliance on 100 innovations in the mining industry quickly dispels this idea. Read Full Posting

Do we need to expand our natural resource base through space exploration?

5/2/2012 03:45:13 PM

While the concept of mining in space has been in science fiction for decades, it now could be closer to reality. Read Full Posting

Environmental Regulations and Mining Investment in Canada

4/16/2012 11:42:00 AM

The recently released federal Budget 2012 contained changes to how resource and mining projects would be approved. According to the budget announcement by Jim Flaherty “we will streamline the review process for such projects, according to the following principle: one project, one review, completed in a clearly defined time period." Read Full Posting

Conflict-Free Gold Standard under development by the World Gold Council

4/5/2012 01:42:56 PM

The World Gold Council (WGC) is working to develop a new Conflict Free Gold Standard. This standard aims to ensure any gold produced under its guidelines does not fund armed groups, fuel armed conflict, or contribute to the human rights abuses associated with these conflicts. Read Full Posting

The Impact of Mining on British Columbia’s Economy

2/13/2012 06:30:40 AM

The Mining Association of British Columbia has released an Economic Impact Analysis, prepared by PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP, which quantifies the impacts mining on British Columbia’s economy. Direct effects of mining on the economy in terms of output, jobs, and taxes were calculated and reported. Read Full Posting

Mining needed to meet mineral needs of renewable energy

2/13/2012 06:29:26 AM

Mining needed to meet mineral needs of renewable energy. Soaring demand and shortages in mineral supplies threaten renewable energy expansion A recent report by the United Nations predicts that wind, solar and other renewable energies will eventually account for most Read Full Posting

Can Zinc shorten the length of the common cold?

2/10/2012 12:28:28 PM

The use of zinc to treat the common cold has been researched since the early 1980s when its beneficial effects were first observed. However, research trials to date have had mixed results. Read Full Posting